When I think of how easily George Washington could have seized--heck, could have accepted--dictatorial power yet chose instead to return to Mount Vernon as citizen Washington merely, I have two reactions.
First, I shudder at how easily a Republic can fall to demagoguery.
Second, I wish that we today had someone half as equal: popular, wise, and respectful of the Constitution.
Alas. Now his name is tainted by the city of hypocrites, tyrants, and thieves.
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
--Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson"
It is amazing to me. When I was about to turn 18 I was so excited about getting to vote. "Now I will be able to make a difference," I thought. Now a mere 20 years later I am so disenfranchised with the whole political game that I wonder why I even bother. What happened to government positions being a temporary service to your country? You go you do your time and then you leave and go back about your business. Perhaps we need term limits on government period. Not just one job, any political job. That probably won't work either.... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI bet Washington just wasn't ambitious.
ReplyDelete